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smellymiche's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Self harm
Minor: Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Ableism, and Medical content
escapismforlife's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I cannot for the life of me give Honey Girl a 4 star rating. I want to because I related to some of the mental healing. But when it comes to the self-care at many points it felt like avoidance when there were other characters , humans who cared about Grace Porter willingly and able to listen. Thing is not everyone has or will get that. Which is the flaw of the major progress she has for me .
I was patient reading while Grace recovers from being a perfectionist who has a plan laid out for her. One she has been focused on through her late teens and entire twenties. Not to mention recovery from the expectations by her military black dad. And a nomadic mom , whose white, that left her all alone with these pressures.
But she has some tendencies that are straining her relationships. Most often when she gets afraid or overwhelmed and runs from Portland to New York City and then Sansbury, Flordia. It happen every tim she felt the urge to be stubborn and wanted to push her family away. Even those she met over the years.
I'm all for space but she completely didn't let anyone who understood know what was going on with her . Which is okay for someone who has the pressure of a career goal. But a the same its like not like everyone has it together. Like has a full on PhD and those ready to be supportive about the issues in one academic program. But maybe if this was me after eleven years of my life I'd understand it better.
I was patient reading while Grace recovers from being a perfectionist who has a plan laid out for her. One she has been focused on through her late teens and entire twenties. Not to mention recovery from the expectations by her military black dad. And a nomadic mom , whose white, that left her all alone with these pressures.
But she has some tendencies that are straining her relationships. Most often when she gets afraid or overwhelmed and runs from Portland to New York City and then Sansbury, Flordia. It happen every tim she felt the urge to be stubborn and wanted to push her family away. Even those she met over the years.
I'm all for space but she completely didn't let anyone who understood know what was going on with her . Which is okay for someone who has the pressure of a career goal. But a the same its like not like everyone has it together. Like has a full on PhD and those ready to be supportive about the issues in one academic program. But maybe if this was me after eleven years of my life I'd understand it better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Racism
flyingryndeer's review
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Medical trauma and Racism
Minor: Emotional abuse, War, and Homophobia
aexileigh's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Racism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma
olliebranch1's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I really wanted to like this book and it started off promising. But even as a self proclaimed hopeless romantic the language in this book was way too flowery for me. There’s just nobody in the world who speaks this way which kind of took me out of trying to relate to this character.
Grace, our main character’s best friends were meant to be seen as the strong, empowering and messy individuals, but in some ways they just seemed toxic. One friend in particular seemed quite ab*sive to the point where it was hard to see her good. Also the whole I love you so much it hurts thing is exactly what I don’t want younger readers to be reading. Codependency is not a good thing kids.
Grace, our main character’s best friends were meant to be seen as the strong, empowering and messy individuals, but in some ways they just seemed toxic. One friend in particular seemed quite ab*sive to the point where it was hard to see her good. Also the whole I love you so much it hurts thing is exactly what I don’t want younger readers to be reading. Codependency is not a good thing kids.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Toxic friendship
marareading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
If you like character driven novels with a slow burn, you will love this. This story is about Grace Porter. Recently graduated with her doctorate in astronomy, wakes up in Las Vegas, married to someone she doesn't know.
This story isn't at all what I was expecting. It was outside my genre comfort zone. The writing was beautiful. It was much more serious than I was expecting. I loved the found family, and the way the author handled mental health issues. I liked the second half much more than the first. I liked that the main characwas closer to 30 and out of college. That is an age geoup that isn't as commonly written. It is very much worth the read.
This story isn't at all what I was expecting. It was outside my genre comfort zone. The writing was beautiful. It was much more serious than I was expecting. I loved the found family, and the way the author handled mental health issues. I liked the second half much more than the first. I liked that the main characwas closer to 30 and out of college. That is an age geoup that isn't as commonly written. It is very much worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Medical trauma and Medical content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Gaslighting
criticalgayze's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I always love being pleasantly surprised by a book. I went in knowing next to nothing other than I always stan when a queer book breaches the gates of the Target Books section.
When I entered the world of Honey Girl, I expected a romance. Then you have the initial premise established, and I assumed it would instead be a romantic comedy. However, what you really get is a journey of self-exploration in which the romance is just accepted and becomes one of a multitude of facets in the journey. (Side note: I found this idea of accepting the shotgun Vegas wedding to be an interesting plot point, and I actually found myself impressed with and appreciative of the choice that it was not played for a schtick or used on its own as a means for panic.) So, instead of "Last Name" by Carrie Underwood, you end up with something that has the ache and injustice of Brandon Taylor's Real Life with the earnestness and hope of Emily Austin's Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead. As a late 20s millennial, this new genre of aching millennial self-search is really doing it for me right now while also making me very sad every time I pick one up.
I also really appreciate the vast array of characters seen in this novel that feels akin to a Casey McQuiston cast.
While I was appreciative to find such great substance in a book that I did not know to expect it of, I did feel that it overstayed its welcome some in the languishing of emotional torment. In a novel surrounded by love and joy as a romance + a friendship story + a family story, it became cumbersome to have the main character both experience so little joy within herself and to be beset by so much critique from others, and I would have appreciated a little more levity in the narrative. I also found that there were some awkwardly millennial lines. For example: While true, the line "Consent is sexy!", feels very out of place in an otherwise deeply emotional story.
There is a lot to love and appreciate here, just be ready to sit in some intense emotions.
Quotes:
"It’s the second time you’ve said yes, but you don’t remember that yet. So, you say yes to this, to this replica lock in a replica city." (Page 5)
"'You need help,' Ximena says seriously, but doesn’t move when Agnes smiles and leans on her shoulder.
'My therapist would be thrilled to hear you say so,' Agnes says." (Page 13)
When I entered the world of Honey Girl, I expected a romance. Then you have the initial premise established, and I assumed it would instead be a romantic comedy. However, what you really get is a journey of self-exploration in which the romance is just accepted and becomes one of a multitude of facets in the journey. (Side note: I found this idea of accepting the shotgun Vegas wedding to be an interesting plot point, and I actually found myself impressed with and appreciative of the choice that it was not played for a schtick or used on its own as a means for panic.) So, instead of "Last Name" by Carrie Underwood, you end up with something that has the ache and injustice of Brandon Taylor's Real Life with the earnestness and hope of Emily Austin's Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead. As a late 20s millennial, this new genre of aching millennial self-search is really doing it for me right now while also making me very sad every time I pick one up.
I also really appreciate the vast array of characters seen in this novel that feels akin to a Casey McQuiston cast.
While I was appreciative to find such great substance in a book that I did not know to expect it of, I did feel that it overstayed its welcome some in the languishing of emotional torment. In a novel surrounded by love and joy as a romance + a friendship story + a family story, it became cumbersome to have the main character both experience so little joy within herself and to be beset by so much critique from others, and I would have appreciated a little more levity in the narrative. I also found that there were some awkwardly millennial lines. For example: While true, the line "Consent is sexy!", feels very out of place in an otherwise deeply emotional story.
There is a lot to love and appreciate here, just be ready to sit in some intense emotions.
Quotes:
"It’s the second time you’ve said yes, but you don’t remember that yet. So, you say yes to this, to this replica lock in a replica city." (Page 5)
"'You need help,' Ximena says seriously, but doesn’t move when Agnes smiles and leans on her shoulder.
'My therapist would be thrilled to hear you say so,' Agnes says." (Page 13)
"'Which god am I praying to?'
'Pick one,' Meera tells her, straightening her kurti as she steps out of the kitchen. 'Choose wisely.'" (Page 19)
'Pick one,' Meera tells her, straightening her kurti as she steps out of the kitchen. 'Choose wisely.'" (Page 19)
"Three is a good number against the world, it turns out." (Page 39)
"I think lonely creatures ache for each other because who else can understand but someone who feels the same dark, black abyss?" (Page 49)
"No one told her astronomers, the ones that publish research every few months and get tenured at universities and navigate programs at NASA, that those astronomers don’t have sun-gold hair. They don’t have sun-browned skin. Those astronomers don’t have ancestors that looked at the stars as a means of escape and not in awe." (Page 63)
"'I’m sure it was hard. It’s hard when you have a plan. Plans are so goddamn hard.'” (Page 103)
"'I thought I wanted to be out of my tank,' she confesses with a whisper. 'But the ocean is big, you know, and I am very, very small.'" (Page 121)
"It’s always the goddamn brains." (Page 180)
“'I told everyone I’m a lesbian,' she says. 'Maybe he thinks it’s a phase.'” (Page 261)
"I think lonely creatures ache for each other because who else can understand but someone who feels the same dark, black abyss?" (Page 49)
"No one told her astronomers, the ones that publish research every few months and get tenured at universities and navigate programs at NASA, that those astronomers don’t have sun-gold hair. They don’t have sun-browned skin. Those astronomers don’t have ancestors that looked at the stars as a means of escape and not in awe." (Page 63)
"'I’m sure it was hard. It’s hard when you have a plan. Plans are so goddamn hard.'” (Page 103)
"'I thought I wanted to be out of my tank,' she confesses with a whisper. 'But the ocean is big, you know, and I am very, very small.'" (Page 121)
"It’s always the goddamn brains." (Page 180)
“'I told everyone I’m a lesbian,' she says. 'Maybe he thinks it’s a phase.'” (Page 261)
“'I said yes to you once, and I haven’t learned how to say anything else, since.'” (Page 276)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Cursing
Minor: Racism, Medical trauma, and Sexual content
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, especially because I felt Grace's struggles. I don't face barriers from racism between me and my chosen career, but I am very familiar with reorienting my life after accademia and with feeling lost after school ended.
📘The Gist 📘: After finishing her Doctorate, Grace's life plans quickly fall apart. At the same time, she deals with reimagining her life outside of accademia. In the midst of this pressure, Grace has an opportunity to build a relationship with a woman she accidentally married in Vegas.
📒Representation📒: BIPOC mc and sc, wlw, women in science, queer sc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: explorations of life transitions between accademia and careers, romance, emotional and mental health
📘The Gist 📘: After finishing her Doctorate, Grace's life plans quickly fall apart. At the same time, she deals with reimagining her life outside of accademia. In the midst of this pressure, Grace has an opportunity to build a relationship with a woman she accidentally married in Vegas.
📒Representation📒: BIPOC mc and sc, wlw, women in science, queer sc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: explorations of life transitions between accademia and careers, romance, emotional and mental health
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Self harm, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual content, Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
seawarrior's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In the acknowledgments of this book, Morgan Rogers describes her work as a "triumph" and I have to say I agree. Honey Girl explores multiple hurdles causing its title character to stumble off the path she had meticulously followed her entire adult life, until she starts to question whether she should even step back onto it at all.
Our protagonist, Grace, is introduced to us newly graduated from a PhD program in astronomy, and just married to a hazy siren of a woman she hardly knows and remembers more like a dream than a real girl. Days prior she had stormed out of the high-level position she was groomed for her by her academic mentor after enduring a tirade of racist microaggressions and accusations from her interviewers. Her future in her field, her family, and in her haphazard marriage weigh on her and soon inspire overwhelming levels of anxiety she has to unravel with help from others. While Grace may feel lonely and like a disappointment to herself and her parents and mentors, she is surrounded by love. She's practically glowing with it, as love flows towards her like sunlight from those devoted to her. They lift her up through their words, their acts of physical reassurance, and their belief that she is brimming with potential as certain as the universe is vast. Each passage of the love expressed between Grace, Yuki, and their friends on either side of the continental United States was uplifting to say the least, and definitely my favorite part of the reading experience. It's easy to imagine how Grace has survived the rigorous studies and racist microaggressions of her astronomy program with these people to support her and remind her of her worth.
The majority of the book winds through Grace's reluctance to accept that she's allowed to want things that aren't practical, that aren't grinding, that aren't her adamant idea of "the best". Witnessing her work through her emotions and grow into a person who is kinder to themselves and no longer aiming to be perfect is rough but rewarding to read. Many will likely relate to Grace's frustrations in forming the future she dreamed of and strived towards, but this book is especially written to validate and encourage Black LGBTQ+ women who find themselves expected to be stronger than everyone else, yet still dismissed when they've met these racist demands. Grace eventually learns that her "best" future is one she wants to enjoy living, and that ending her guilt over seeking it will be an arduous but possible process. Each character in this book was created with thought and love that shines through on the page, even when their imperfections are being highlighted. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciations stories with characters who seem three-dimensional enough to be real people. My only regret in reading this is that it ended, I will sorely miss spending time in Grace's universe.
Our protagonist, Grace, is introduced to us newly graduated from a PhD program in astronomy, and just married to a hazy siren of a woman she hardly knows and remembers more like a dream than a real girl. Days prior she had stormed out of the high-level position she was groomed for her by her academic mentor after enduring a tirade of racist microaggressions and accusations from her interviewers. Her future in her field, her family, and in her haphazard marriage weigh on her and soon inspire overwhelming levels of anxiety she has to unravel with help from others. While Grace may feel lonely and like a disappointment to herself and her parents and mentors, she is surrounded by love. She's practically glowing with it, as love flows towards her like sunlight from those devoted to her. They lift her up through their words, their acts of physical reassurance, and their belief that she is brimming with potential as certain as the universe is vast. Each passage of the love expressed between Grace, Yuki, and their friends on either side of the continental United States was uplifting to say the least, and definitely my favorite part of the reading experience. It's easy to imagine how Grace has survived the rigorous studies and racist microaggressions of her astronomy program with these people to support her and remind her of her worth.
The majority of the book winds through Grace's reluctance to accept that she's allowed to want things that aren't practical, that aren't grinding, that aren't her adamant idea of "the best". Witnessing her work through her emotions and grow into a person who is kinder to themselves and no longer aiming to be perfect is rough but rewarding to read. Many will likely relate to Grace's frustrations in forming the future she dreamed of and strived towards, but this book is especially written to validate and encourage Black LGBTQ+ women who find themselves expected to be stronger than everyone else, yet still dismissed when they've met these racist demands. Grace eventually learns that her "best" future is one she wants to enjoy living, and that ending her guilt over seeking it will be an arduous but possible process. Each character in this book was created with thought and love that shines through on the page, even when their imperfections are being highlighted. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciations stories with characters who seem three-dimensional enough to be real people. My only regret in reading this is that it ended, I will sorely miss spending time in Grace's universe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Self harm
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Medical trauma, Sexual content, and War
bookscoffeehayley's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Morgan Roger’s debut, Honey Girl, was one of my favorite reads of June.
I can’t begin to know how Grace felt as a Black woman at the beginning of her career in a predominately white male-dominated industry. But some of her feelings of working so intensely for so long and then trying to figure out what comes next were very relatable.
I loved the characters in this book! From Grace’s friends and parents in Portland to Yuki and her roommates in NY, to Grace’s mom and boyfriend in Florida, they were all so wonderfully crafted! These were the type of characters that I would love to see a series created around, a la Jasmine Guillory’s Wedding Date series. I found them all so interesting and lovable.
I have to chat a second about Agnus because this was the first time I’ve ever read a book where a character has Borderline Personality Disorder. Agnus receives her diagnosis in the middle of the book and her friends are so supportive of her. Seeing someone with BPD represented in a book and depicted with more than just the scary, intense symptoms of BPD, but with loving friends and close relationships was SUCH a moment for me. Close relationships, whether platonic or romantic, can be tough for us #BPDWarriors, and seeing Agnus represented in a positive manner was incredible.
Big fan of this one and can’t wait to see more from Morgan Rogers!
I can’t begin to know how Grace felt as a Black woman at the beginning of her career in a predominately white male-dominated industry. But some of her feelings of working so intensely for so long and then trying to figure out what comes next were very relatable.
I loved the characters in this book! From Grace’s friends and parents in Portland to Yuki and her roommates in NY, to Grace’s mom and boyfriend in Florida, they were all so wonderfully crafted! These were the type of characters that I would love to see a series created around, a la Jasmine Guillory’s Wedding Date series. I found them all so interesting and lovable.
I have to chat a second about Agnus because this was the first time I’ve ever read a book where a character has Borderline Personality Disorder. Agnus receives her diagnosis in the middle of the book and her friends are so supportive of her. Seeing someone with BPD represented in a book and depicted with more than just the scary, intense symptoms of BPD, but with loving friends and close relationships was SUCH a moment for me. Close relationships, whether platonic or romantic, can be tough for us #BPDWarriors, and seeing Agnus represented in a positive manner was incredible.
Big fan of this one and can’t wait to see more from Morgan Rogers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Homophobia
Moderate: Medical trauma